Machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

T. J. SMITH. STREET SWEEPING MACHINE.

No. 436,746. Patented Sept. 16. 1890.

INVENTOR:

ATTORNEY.

2 SheetsS11eet 2.

(No Model.)

T. J. SMITH.

. STREET SWBBPING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 16, 1890,

r IITI INVENTOR:

BY man 60am ATTORNEY.

5 o cessitates the use of an ordinary tongue which UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. SMITH, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN WV. I-IINES, OF SAME PLACE.

STREET-SWEEPING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,746, dated September 16, 1890.

Application filed April 26, 1890. Serial No. 349,648. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, THOMAs J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street- Sweeping Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved machine for sweeping streets or road-beds, and has for its object to provide mechanism that will sweep the street-surface and place the dirt-sweepings into an elevator, from which it will be deposited into a cart or wagon attached to the machine.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a longitudinal view of the machine having the two wheels and side wall of the dust-inclosing case removed. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the case-top removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of the support for the revolving broom. Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the back revoluble axle and the means for imparting motion to the revolving broom and endless elevator. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of the machine on line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing the front revoluble axle'and the gearing for imparting motion to the dirt-loosening brush and means for siipporting the same. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the discharging-chute of the elevator taken online 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the dirt-elevator taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 shows two views of the dirt-shoe and its mounting.

The letter A designates the frame of the machine, 13 the walls of the casing, and O C the back and front wheels, which are rigidly mounted on revoluble axles c 0, respectively, which have their journals in supports a ct projecting downward of the frame A. In order, however, to enable the machine to be turned the front axle should be pivotally secured to the frame in the ordinary mannerthat is, the frame should be provided with a cross-piece to which another cross-piece or bolster is pivotally secured by means of a pin or kingbolt. The supports co a are then secured to the outer ends of this bolster, instead of to the frame. This construction no is detachably secured at its front end. to the axle of the cart which travels in front of the machine and receives the sweepings from the front end of the delivery-chute.

On the back axle c, and near each end, is

loosely suspended a support which has two arms 6 e, forming an oblique angle, and is suspended from its apex on the axle. The arms a of these two supports-one on each side of the machineform journals for the broomshaft f, and mounted on the end of the said shaft f is a pinion-wheel f, which meshes with a pinion-wheel g mounted loosely on the revoluble back axle c. Integral with this said pinion-wheel g is a sprocket-wheel 9.

An endless carrier or elevator F is supported by two rollers mounted on shaftsc't, respectively, which extend crosswise of the machine. This endless carrier has an upward inclined position, and extends from the rear lower end close to the ground to the elevated deliverychute end 0, projecting beyond the front of the machine. The carrier or elevator is made of canvas, and has cross-slatsl attached on its exterior surface. On the end of the shaft t'of the lower roller is mounted a sprocketwheel is, which is connected by an endless chain k with the sprocket-wheel g on the revoluble back axle o.

The two side walls F of the elevator-frame So have on the inside a slideway 1%, upon which the end of the slats Z travel in their upward movement. This slideway keeps the carrierbelt from sagging. The dirt-sweepings fall from the carrier F at the top roller and pass down the delivery-chute 0. A circular brush p is mounted near the top of the elevator and in contact with its lower surface, and is driven by a belt 19 passing over a pulley b on its own shaft and a pulley p on the shaft c' of go the lower carrier-roller. Thus it will be seen that the brush will sweep any remaining dirt from the carrier into the chute o.

A clutch j, operated by a lever j, is mounted on the revoluble back axle c and turns with 5 it, but may slide along the same. This clutch has a tongue fiwhich fits a groove j in the hub of the pinion' wheel on the revoluble axle 0. Thus it will be seen that the broom f and the endless carrier can be thrown out of gear at will. A shoe n is pivoted to the shaft 1' of the lower carrier roller, and extends across the machine, and the sweepings thrown up by the revolving broom f pass over the shoe and onto the elevator or endless carrier. The free end of this shoe is supported by a rod n, which extends crosswise of the machine and under the said shoe 41, thus permitting the shoe to be made light and thin without any danger of its bending or curving under the pressure of the dirt as it is being forced up the plate by the broom.

A rod 6 has one end jointed to the upper arm e of the broom-support and passing through a hole in a bar h, which extends across the machine. Encircling this rod 6 between the arm 9' and said cross-bar h, is a spiral spring h, by the tension of which the greater part of the weight of the revolving broom f is sustained and taken off the reeds of the same.

Loosely mounted near one end of the front revoluble axle c is a pinion-wheel g, which intermeshes with a pinion-wheel q below the same mounted on one end of a cross-shaft 0. On the other end of this shaft is a pinionwheel 3, which meshes with a pinion-wheel s below it on a shaft 25, carrying a revolving broom t,"having steel points. This steel-point broom goes in advance and serves to cut or loosen the dry mud or dirt on the street, and thus prepare it for the action of the broom f The said shaft t of this steel-point broom has its journals near one end hung or suspended in two metal bars a it, which are pivoted to the cross-shaft 4", previously referred to. By jo'urnaling the broom at the rear ends of the bars a and u the broom will drag along without the necessity of elevating it when not in operation, and by revolving it in the direction .in which the machine is going or in the direction opposite the first broom, it will have a tendencyto roll forward and thus swing the ends of the arms a and a downward toward the front of the machine, which will thus antomatically force the ends of the revolving steel points into the dirt and loosen it more effectively than would be the case if it rotated in the opposite direction or if a rake were used instead of the revolving broom. On the front revoluble axle c is also placed a clutch 1), similar to the one on the back revoluble axle, which is operated by a lever 10. seen that the broom may be stopped by disengaging the clutch and only be operated when required, as in places where the dirt has become too hard to be removed by'the ordinary sweeping.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In a street-sweeping machine, the com-. bination of a revoluble axle a pinion-wheel g 011 said axle, two supports suspended on the axle and each having two arms e e, a revolu- It will be ble broom whose shaft fis mounted on the lower arms of said supports, a pinion f on the broom-shaft and in gear with the said pinion on the axle, a bar h, extending across the ma chine, and a spring h, bearing on each of the upper arms of said two supports and said bar.

2. In a street-sweeping machine, the combination, with a frame having supports and a revoluble axle at each end, a shaft in the lower end of the front supports having a gearwheel at each end, rearwardly-extendin g arms pivotally secured upon the shaft, a revolving broom having steel points journaled in the rear ends of the arms, one end of the shaft of which is provided with a pinion meshing with the gear-wheel on one end of the shaft in the supports, a gear-wheel on the front axle meshing with the gear-wheel on the opposite end of the shaft in the supports, and a clutch for 

